Device for applying wrappers to cigar fillers



July 9, 1963 ca. SEVCIK 3,096,771

DEVICE FOR APPLYING WRAPPERS T0 CIGAR FILLERS Filed June 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I T 2 mm:

INVENTOR zk/vrs ie f'sm/A G. SEVCIK 3,096,771

DEVICE FOR APPLYING WRAPPERS TO CIGAR FILLERS July 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1962 United States Patent 3,096,771 DEVICE FOR APPLYENG WRAPPERS TO CIGAR FILLERS Giinther Sevcik, Dresden, Germany, assignor to VEB Tabakund Industriemaschinen Dresden, Dresden,

Germany Filed June 14, 1962, Ser. No. 202,427 8 Claims. ((31. 131-36) The present invention relates to a device for applying wrappers to cigar fillers in cigar wrapping machines, par ticularly for applying specially cut wrappers to be rolled over the foot portion of the cigar filler (which is to be ignited).

Devices are known in which the end of the wrapper is pressed against the top portion of the cigar filler (to be put in the mouth) shortly before the wrapping procedure is terminated. Conical discs are used for this purpose which are shaped in the form of the cigar filler top, or by similar means pivotally arranged in the Wrapping machine.

Other devices have also become known which smooth out the filler top upon termination of the wrapping procedure by means of rotating brushes arranged longitudinally and at right angles to the cigar filler top.

Arrangements of wrapping stations are also known which employ depressions or trays shaped according to the form of the filler top to avoid any undesirable wrinkling when the end of the wrapper is rolled around the top of the cigar filler.

All these known devices serve the purpose of pressing and smoothing out the wrapper end against the top portion of the filler shortly before the wrapping operation is completed or after its termination. Thus in such cases an after-operation is performed at the top portion of the ready-wrapped cigar. Such devices are usually employed in the cigar wrapping machines adjacent the portion of the cigar filler at which the rolling of the wrapper is being completed.

It is the object of the invention to provide a device for cigar wrapping machines for applying the wrappers, starting with the foot portion of the filler and proceeding towards the top portion, wherein the wrinkles formed during the initial wrapping steps are evenly distributed and smoothed from said foot toward thebody of the cigar filler. The device is particularly adapted for wrapping fillers having a markedly conical foot portion where the wrinkles are especially pronounced.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cigar wrapping device which is both reliable and economical in use, providing maximum protection for the relatively fragile and delicate tobacco leavesforming the pre-cut cigar wrappers handled by the wrapping machine.

In the wrapping machine, when the wrapper carrier pivots at the outset of the wrapping operation, the pivoting occurring around an imaginary intersection of the projected sides of the conical cigar foot, the end part of the cut wrapper is placed on the filler so that a wide strip of the wrapper overlies the largest diameter of the conical foot portion in a direction toward the shaft of the cigar filler. This end part must be wrapped around the foot portion in small, evenly spaced folds before the wrapping is continued around the filler body, so that a smooth and wrinkle-free transition from the foot part to the body or shaft of the cigar filler is achieved.

According to a major feature of the invention, this is accomplished by employing a resilient rubber disc for the purpose of an even laying of the folds of the wrapper when the foot portion is wrapped. This disc is rotatably and adjustably arranged and it can swing toward and away from the filler; and it is held between two discs.

A knurled roller is arranged on the shaft of one of "ice the upper wrapping rollers to provide the required rotary movement for the rubber disc; the roller comes into contact with the disc which swings toward the filler. The roller drives the rubber disc by contact of friction. For preventing bending of the resilient rubber disc which could damage the wrapper, the lower supporting disc is made larger than the upper one flanking the centrally held rubber disc.

For the repeated swinging movement of the rubber disc and for the even laying of the folds in the wrapper during the operation at the filler foot portion, a plurality of adjoining curved profiles are arranged on a controlling cam disc.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered with the accompanying drawing, wherein FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the device according to the invention as applied to a cigar wrapping machine, with the rubber disc swung away from the cigar wrapper;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 1, the rubber disc being tilted into contact with the wrapper;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 2, taken from the left-hand side as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the inventive device.

A wrapper carrier 1 holds a pre-c-ut wrapper 2 by suction while swinging over the foot portion of a cigar filler 3- into the initial position for the wrapping operation. The cutting and transporting of the cigar wrapper as well as the wrapping by means of a needle does not form the subject matter of the present invention and is therefore not discussed in more detail.

The wrapper 2 is removed from the carrier 1 by a needle 4 (FIG. 2) and the end portion 5 of the wrapper 2 is placed on the foot portion (the end to be ignited) of the cigar filler 3. In a conventional manner not described here in detail, the filler is placed in the machine between upper wrapping rollers -6 and 7 and lower Wrapping rollers 8 and 9, as can be readily seen in FIG. 1. All four rollers 6-9 are journaled on one of their ends in a housing '10. As shown in FIG. 4, gears 11 of rollers 6, 7 and gears 11' of rollers '8, 9 are in constant mesh with a centrally journaled gear 12 which assures synchronous movement of rollers 6-9 at all times.

The gears 11 are driven by a gear 12' which, in turn, is rotated by a gear 13. The latter is in operative engagement with a gear segment 14 journaled on a stationary bracket. A cam follower 214a forming part of segment 14 engages a continuous groove 15a of a cam disc 15 attached to a main shaft 16. The latter is connected (by means not shown) to the main drive of the wrapping machine. Owing to this arrangement, the rotation of shaft 16 results in a periodic oscillation of gear segment 14 and in an intermittent rotation of rollers 6-9.

During the operative phase of the machine, the wrapping rollers 6-9 impart a rotary motion to the cigar filler 3 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1. The return motion, coinciding with the reversal of swing of segment 14, is during the inoperative phase of the machine, as will be clear from the following explanations. A bearing 17 is fastened to the housing '10. This bearing supports a bolt I18 to which an upstanding lever 19 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is pivotally attached. As illustrated, the lever 19 carries about midway a guide roller bolt 20 on which a guide roller 21 is supported. The latter engages a cam disc =22 keyed to a shaft 23 driven (by means not shown) from the main drive of the wrapping machine. In order to assure that the substantially vertical lever 19 with the guide roller 21 are kept in constant engagement with the cam disc 22, a tension spring 24 is provided which is at- 3 tached to respective studs 25, 25 of lever 19 and housing '10.

In the upper part of lever 19 there is a bore in which a cylindrical lug 26 of a block 27 is pivotally arranged. A rod 28 is mounted in block 27 and can be adjusted to the desired position by means of a set screw 29. At the other end of the rod 28, spaced apart from the lever 19, a clamp 30 having a lug 31 is attached. On this lug, :a thin, elastic rubber disc 34 is frictionally clamped between a lower, larger disc 32 and an upper, smaller disc 33.

On an overhanging portion of the lug 2 6, a slotted lever 35 is clamped by means of a set screw 36; at its other end,

a tension spring 37 is arranged which maintains a resilient 3 contact between the rubber disc 34 and a knurled roller 38 which is attached to the shaft of roller 6, while the folds are laid, assuring thereby a frictional drive from the roller 38 to the disc 34-.

By loosening the set screw 36, the rubber disc 34 can be pivoted around 'lug 26; this permits the pressure adjustment between the disc 34 and the roller 38. Furthermore, rod 28 can be moved forward and back when the screw 29 is loosened, permitting a fine adjustment of the rubber disc 34 with respect to the center of the cigar filler 3. 'By rotating the rod 28, it is also possible to choose the plane in which the disc 34 rotates so that the latter adapts itself to the inclination of the transition between the foot and body portions of the cigar.

The cam disc 22. is provided with a plurality of curved profiles 39 (two being shown in FIG. 1) following each other in short succession in order that the rubber disc 34 may touch the wrapper 2 several times during the wrapping of the foot portion, while the filler 13 is being rotated between the rollers 6-9.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates only to a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modificaitons of the example described which do not constitute departures vfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for applying wrappers to cigar fillers in cigar wrapping machines having a wrapper carrier, a plurality of wrapping rollers for manipulating the cigar filler, and a wrapping needle for applying the starting end of a wrapper to one end of the filler, comprising, in combination, a rotatable, pivotally mounted disc ofelastic material adapted to contact said wrapper end in tangential relationship between the latter and a peripheral planar portion of said elastic disc, two rotatable discs mounted in vertically spaced-apart relation, concentrically with and flanking said elastic disc, and control means for bringing said elastic disc into engagement with said wrapper end for smoothing the folds of said wrapper on said cigar'filler at said end thereof where said wrapper starting end has been applied.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the axes of rotation of said wrapping rollers and said elastic disc are substantially at right angles with respect to one another, so that the rotational forces exerted by said wrapping rollers and said elastic disc act substantially in perpendicular relation at the region of their tangential engagement.

3. A device for applying wrappers to cigar fillers in cigar wrapping machines having a wrapper carrier, a plurality of wrapping rollers for manipulating the cigar filler, and a wrapping needle for applying the end of a wrapper to the filler, comprising, in combination, a rotatable, pivota-lly mounted disc of elastic material adapted to contact said wrapper end, two rotatable discs mounted in vertically spacedaapart relation, concentrically with and flanking said elastic disc, and control means for bringing said elastic disc into engagement with said wrapper end tfior smoothing the folds of said wrapper on said cigar filler, wherein said elastic disc has a diameter greater than either of said two flanking discs, the lower one of said flanking discs being larger in diameter than the upper one, said control means comprising a knurled, cylindrical member for frictionally imparting at least intermittent rotational movement to said elastic disc.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said knurled member is rigid and moves together with one of said wrapping rollers.

5. A device for applying wrappers to cigar fillers in cigar wrapping machines having a wrapper carrier, a plurality of wrapping rollers for manipulating the cigar filler, and a wrapping needle for applying the end of a wrapper to the filler, comprising, in combination, a rotatable, pivotally mounted disc of elastic material adapted to contact said wrapper end, two rotatable discs mounted in vertically spaced-apart relation, concentrically with and flanking said elastic disc, and control means for bringing said elastic disc into engagement with said wrapper end for smoothing the folds of said wrapper on said cigar filler, wherein said control means comprises a rotatable cam disc having at least one peripheral recess, and a lever pivotally mounted in said machine for rotatably supporting said elastic disc, a guide portion of said lever being positively biased toward said cam disc, whereby said elastic disc is alternately approached to and removed from said cigar filler while said cam disc is rotated.

Y 6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said lever comprises means for supporting said elastic disc adjustable at least in one spatial direction towards and away from said cigar filler.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein said guide portion of the lever consists of roller rotatably secured to said lever and in frictional engagement with said cam disc.

8. A device according to claim 5, further comprising drive means for said wrapping machine for continuously rotating said cam disc and intermittently driving said wrapping rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 51,578 Fisk Dec. 19-, 1865 108,331 Cole Oct. 18, 1870 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,706 Norway Aug. 19, 1907 

1. A DEVICE FOR APPLYING WRAPPERS TO CIGARS FILLERS IN CIGAR WRAPPING MACHINES HAVING A WRAPPER CARRIER, A PLUARITY OF WRAPPING ROLLERS FOR MANIPULATING THE CIGAR FILLER, AND A WRAPPER NEEDLE FOR APPLYING THE STARING END OF A WRAPPER TO ONE END OF THE FILLER, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A ROTATABLE, PIVOTALLY MOUNTED DISC OF ELASTIC MATERIAL ADAPTED TO CONTACT SAID WRAPPER END IN TANGENTIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LATTER AND A PERIPHERAL PLANAR PORTION OF SAID ELASTIC DISC, TWO ROTATABLE DISC MOUNTED IN VERTICALLY SPACED-APART RELATION, CONCENTRICALLY WITH AND FLANKING SAID ELASTIC DISC, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR BRING SAID ELASTIC DISC INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID WRAPPER END FOR SMOOTHING THE FOLDS OF SAID WRAPPER ON SAID CIGAR FILLER AT SAID END THEREOF WHERE SAID WRAPPER STARTIN END HAS BEEN APPLIED. 